Kyler Murray’s Offensive Rookie of the Year Odds Continue Fading; Is Now the Time to Bet the Cardinals QB?

• The odds of Kyler Murray winning the 2019 Offensive Rookie of the Year grew longer for the third successive week
• His average odds to be NFL OROY are at +200
• Murray was +150 entering the regular season and +180 after Week 1

Is it time to turn your attention away from Kyler Murray, or is now the moment to back the Arizona Cardinals quarterback big-time?

For the third week in a row across the leading sportsbooks, Murray’s average to be named the NFL offensive rookie of the year have grown longer in the NFL OROY odds.

At the dawn of the current NFL regular season, Murray was the +150 chalk to win the award. He jumped to +180 following a 27-27 overtime time with the Detroit Lions in his NFL debut.

Oddsmakers now list Murray at odds of +200.

2019 NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year Odds

*Odds taken on 09/16/19. 

It’s the longest his odds have been since June. Murray was at +220 back then.

Murray’s Mixed Bag

While he’s still seeking his first NFL victory, Murray did rally the Cardinals from a 24-6 deficit to tie the Lions in the opener.

Murray leads the NFL in pass attempts (94). He’s also seventh in completions (54) and fourth in passing yardage (657).

"Several of our rapper friends here on Undisputed have been texting me during the @OU_Football games, and they are in to @TheKylerMurray, especially our man @Nelly_Mo. He's over the top on Kyler Murray. … He is fun to watch." — @RealSkipBayless pic.twitter.com/s6VozETEkq

— UNDISPUTED (@undisputed) September 12, 2018

He became just the second quarterback in NFL history to launch his career with consecutive 300-yard passing performances.

He’ll face the only other QB to do it this week when the Cardinals play Cam Newton and the Carolina Panthers.

Keeping Up With Jones

There’s a new player entering the NFL OROY race this week. The New York Giants have benched two-time Super Bowl winner Eli Manning.

Sunday as the 0-2 Giants play the Buccaneers at Tampa Bay, they’ll give the start to Daniel Jones, their 2019 first-round pick from Duke.

https://twitter.com/Giants/status/1173976197799251969?s=20

Oddsmakers quickly moved Jones to the co-second betting choice at +500 with running back Josh Jacobs of the Oakland Raiders. He’ll hand off to 2018 NFL OROY Saquon Barkley in the backfield but the Giants’ receiving corps is decimated by injury.

The Buccaneers are eighth in the NFL in total defense and sixth at stopping the run.

Jones could be in for a very long debut start.

Jacobs The One To Watch

If there’s someone poised to topple Murray from his favorite’s perch, Jacobs could be the man. The Raiders back is currently fourth in the NFL in rushing with 184 yards.

Josh Jacobs gets loose in the infield. He has 12 carries for 99 yards in the fourth quarter. pic.twitter.com/ISImmQRw4s

— Michael Casagrande (@ByCasagrande) September 15, 2019

Jacobs has scored two touchdowns and is averaging 5.3 yards per carry. At 87.8, Pro Football Focus graded Jacobs as the NFL’s #1 running back through the first two weeks of the season.

Could It Be The Year Of The Receiver?

Several ball catchers populate the top 10 for the NFL OROY.

They include Baltimore’s Marquise Brown (12 catches, 233 yards, 2 TDs) and Washington’s Terry McLaurin (10 catches, 187 yards, 2 TDs).

Most Receiving Yards Through A Receiver's First Two Career Games (Since 1996)

1. Anquan Boldin – 279
2. Marquise Brown – 233
3. Stefon Diggs – 216
4. Will Fuller – 211
5. Terry McLaurin – 187
6. Randy Moss – 184
7. DeAndre Hopkins – 183

— Scott Barrett (@ScottBarrettDFB) September 16, 2019

The last receiver to win the award was the Giants’ Odell Beckham Jr in 2014.

Murray’s Still The Man

Murray completed seven passes of 20+ yards in last week’s loss to Baltimore. Cardinals receivers Christian Kirk (six catches, 114 yards) and Larry Fitzgerald (five catches, 104 yards) went over 100 yards in receiving.

https://twitter.com/AZCardinals/status/1173722289973559296?s=20

Realistically, this looks to be a repeat of last season’s two-player race between an RB (Barkley) and a QB (Baker Mayfield).

Either Murray or Jacobs should win the NFL OROY.

It’s still Murray’s to lose but at this point, a small wager on each to cover your bases wouldn’t be a bad play.

Pick: Kyler Murray (+200).